tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84769552016-12-09T16:26:23.477+02:00A Jewish Grandmother A Jewish Grandmother: Original, unedited daily musings, and host to the monthly Kosher Cooking Carnival. **Copyright(C)BatyaMedad ** For permission to use these in publications of any sort, please contact me directly. Private accredited distribution encouraged. Thank you.Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.comBlogger7022125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-30553697861432157772016-12-09T06:30:00.000+02:002016-12-09T06:30:38.683+02:00More Garden Cleaning, Should Make for More Roses and Grapes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think when it comes to vines, less makes more. Let's see if this great pruning really works. For a decade or more the grapes and roses were mired in a mess that prevented both from flourishing the way the should have. So, a neighbor took the initiate and offered, OK for money, to do this massive pruning which we really should be doing annually.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vx5QgWRFggU/WEl4duSUcKI/AAAAAAAAZXc/uOda_EK6sO8lSWT8uq_5hAI8jUhvuZWUgCLcB/s1600/IMG_3065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vx5QgWRFggU/WEl4duSUcKI/AAAAAAAAZXc/uOda_EK6sO8lSWT8uq_5hAI8jUhvuZWUgCLcB/s400/IMG_3065.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W4x9z6773ec/WEl4Y6l0KvI/AAAAAAAAZXY/NAg4FW9VMqQi0BkNUgcf6VzGRVg6pXGZwCLcB/s1600/IMG_3066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W4x9z6773ec/WEl4Y6l0KvI/AAAAAAAAZXY/NAg4FW9VMqQi0BkNUgcf6VzGRVg6pXGZwCLcB/s400/IMG_3066.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O_tKlC3VDIY/WEl4YdhKuUI/AAAAAAAAZXU/t0-cqFft5EckQNtHVF3h0Ke1wyBZqm1RACLcB/s1600/IMG_3067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O_tKlC3VDIY/WEl4YdhKuUI/AAAAAAAAZXU/t0-cqFft5EckQNtHVF3h0Ke1wyBZqm1RACLcB/s400/IMG_3067.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5vKzNN3Yfno/WEl5PYU91-I/AAAAAAAAZXg/Of8X9Jj3upc3fr14ZvnZWv7ZR9iJQoNrgCLcB/s1600/IMG_3070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5vKzNN3Yfno/WEl5PYU91-I/AAAAAAAAZXg/Of8X9Jj3upc3fr14ZvnZWv7ZR9iJQoNrgCLcB/s400/IMG_3070.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-01xJhQo1kgA/WEl5QRtwNnI/AAAAAAAAZXk/y2kceYHqjzsPA_VTk8f64M0SOPq6Xq6tACLcB/s1600/IMG_3072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-01xJhQo1kgA/WEl5QRtwNnI/AAAAAAAAZXk/y2kceYHqjzsPA_VTk8f64M0SOPq6Xq6tACLcB/s400/IMG_3072.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O8c67POLobw/WEl5RoMvQgI/AAAAAAAAZXo/0pe-c2fAl3kP28DpMQ_oSJJ2OBgLmfpcgCLcB/s1600/IMG_3073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O8c67POLobw/WEl5RoMvQgI/AAAAAAAAZXo/0pe-c2fAl3kP28DpMQ_oSJJ2OBgLmfpcgCLcB/s400/IMG_3073.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />I'll keep reporting as the winter progresses on the roses, and then in the spring we'll see the beginnings of the grape clusters, Gd willing.<div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-28113066582535339752016-12-08T08:14:00.000+02:002016-12-08T09:26:56.372+02:00More in My Car-less Traveling Saga<i>Cross-posted&nbsp;on <a href="https://shilohmusings.blogspot.co.il/2016/12/more-in-my-car-less-traveling-saga.html">Shiloh Musings</a>.</i><br /><br />As most of you certainly know, we don't have a car. My husband's travel needs are relatively simple, so like many in the modern world he has no big problem commuting to and from work and other activities by public transportation. He actually enjoys the quiet time for napping and whatever. My travel needs are sometimes more complicated, but since there's no car on the horizon at all, I find myself <i>enjoying </i>periodic adventures.<br /><br />Wednesday is my most complicated day of the week. Of course, it starts off simply enough, because I usually sleep at a friend's apartment Tuesday night. She's one of my "learning buddies," aka <i>chevruta</i>, so we travel together to <a href="http://www.matan.org.il/eng/">Matan</a> in her car, where we meet the rest of the group for our <a href="http://www.matan.org.il/eng/alhaperek.asp">Al Haperek</a> studies. After that we stay for Yael Ziegler's class, <a href="http://www.matan.org.il/eng/shnaton_all.asp?ezur=1">&nbsp;"Kings, Prophets and Hurban," </a>&nbsp;and then I rush to catch a bus plus in order to get me to Kochav Hashachar to teach on time.<br /><br />In theory, it's possible to just catch the bus on Eshkol Boulevard if it's slightly delayed, though I frequently miss it. Last week as I rushed out of the light-rail (which I caught on Jaffa Street after getting off the 77 bus) at Ammunition Hill, I spotted the bus already standing at the traffic light. So I took a bus (after waiting a bit) to Sha'ar Binyamin and stood there for at least twenty minutes with a sign saying <b>כוכב השחר</b> KOCHAV HASHACHAR in my hands to attract drivers to that community who wouldn't have thought of stopping for me. It did help,and I got a ride and arrived on time.<br /><br />So, yesterday, I decided to stay on the 77 until Eshkol Boulevard, although I knew I'd have to run a couple a hundred meters to a bus stop. As I caught my breath at that stop, I saw the 949--yes the bus to Kocahv Hashachar-- approaching. I signaled and got on very gratefully, thanking Gd for my great luck. I paid, sat down and relaxed. Everything was fine until about a half a kilometer from the city-line, the Jerusalem-Hisme border. The bus died.<br /><br />So, I went out with another passenger to try to hail a bus or a ride at least to Sha'ar Binyamin or Hisme. The other buses wouldn't pick us up, because they are Egged Tavura and the 949 is Egged, so since it wasn't a proper bus stop they couldn't stop for us. Finally a young bearded man stopped, opened the door and said:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"Batya, come on in."</blockquote>It ended up being a guy who had grown up in Shiloh, was my son's <i>madrich, </i>youth movement counselor, and my daughter had been his. He was on his way to visit his mother and was disappointed that he couldn't take me all the way home.<br /><br />I asked him if I was crazy to get off at the Alon Road turnoff from Road 60, where there's a proper hitchhiking stop, with barriers and all. I've been asking many about it since there are many more possibilities for rides to Kochav Hashachar than Hizme and Sha'ar Binyamin. So that's where I got off.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3t4K--JahHI/WEj0XEN1eoI/AAAAAAAAZWs/YkejngUYTj4SVNM0wFBNgv70BE_Kna9IwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3t4K--JahHI/WEj0XEN1eoI/AAAAAAAAZWs/YkejngUYTj4SVNM0wFBNgv70BE_Kna9IwCLcB/s400/IMG_2204.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Finally a young woman picked me up who was going to Kochav Hashachar and told me that it's a fine place to wait for rides. So now I know that I must find a tremp willing to drop me off there when I have to get to work.<br /><br />And don't think that getting home from Kochav Hashachar didn't cause stress, too. There is <a href="https://www.google.co.il/maps/dir/kochav+hashachar/Shilo/@31.996821,35.1816635,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x151cd1a64aa5caab:0x7f5ae629d74af4e3!2m2!1d35.349421!2d31.960264!1m5!1m1!1s0x151cd9891c531159:0x4e9e1f95a48db676!2m2!1d35.29909!2d32.054405!3e3">no direct way</a>, so I have to speak to other teachers and get a ride somehow.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w5kZ006svCU/WEj4Amo-ZEI/AAAAAAAAZW4/y2QoagxMH5sgH8ZK9CU2aMZIh1afWDHvQCLcB/s1600/settlements%2Bmap%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w5kZ006svCU/WEj4Amo-ZEI/AAAAAAAAZW4/y2QoagxMH5sgH8ZK9CU2aMZIh1afWDHvQCLcB/s400/settlements%2Bmap%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kochav Hashachar is just north of Rimonim and southeast of Shiloh. They are on the Alon Road, and Shiloh is on #60.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The best rides are when I'm taken via Kida/Shvut Rachel which at its worst will leave me a mile or kilometer and a half from my house. But recently, after hectic stressful searches for a ride out, which leave me with little patience to teach my difficult students, I end up with a ride that drops me off at Givat Asaf, the Beit El junction. When there I whip out my <b>שילה</b> SHILOH sign to attract drivers going north. That's what happened yesterday. I caught a ride, thanks to the sign of course, to the Shiloh Junction, where I got a ride to the Shvut Rachel-Shiloh Junction, then another ride to the middle of Shiloh where the stores and Kupat Leumit clinic are. And there I got tired of waiting, started walking up when a neighbor stopped to give me a ride to my door, B"H, thank the Good Lord!!<div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-27033651730279173612016-12-07T05:30:00.000+02:002016-12-07T05:30:25.877+02:00Black & White Minimalism in The Israel MusuemThe name of this week's <a href="http://52frames.com/">52Frames</a> theme is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/52frames/photos/?tab=album&amp;album_id=1416463851712064">Black &amp; White Minimalism</a>, but my photo is much more white than black.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eZvwPZ_hLao/WEWEVzzkiAI/AAAAAAAAZVw/ob40F8t2ExAu_JQbKE4ivXlU0HIzCBADQCLcB/s1600/Batya%2BMedad%252C%2BMinimalist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eZvwPZ_hLao/WEWEVzzkiAI/AAAAAAAAZVw/ob40F8t2ExAu_JQbKE4ivXlU0HIzCBADQCLcB/s640/Batya%2BMedad%252C%2BMinimalist.JPG" width="464" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>"White Chairs and Mondrian"</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">When I walked by these chairs in front of the painting by Piet Mondrian in the <a href="http://www.imj.org.il/en/">Israel Museum</a>, I knew that I had found my Black Minimalism subject.&nbsp;</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Once while in New York's Museum of Modern Art I ended up listening to a gallery talk about Piet Mondrian, so I recognized the style of his painting right away. <i>And I must admit that I was quite proud of myself for guessing correctly!</i><br /><i><br /></i>The perfect white minimalist props for the painting are these two chairs. They almost fade into the background, and you can't get more minimalist than that.<br /><br />What do you think?<div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-62808614233117979382016-12-06T05:30:00.000+02:002016-12-06T06:00:34.863+02:00Best Salad Deal in Jerusalem!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Xy8hhoPvWs/WERGQSBJ51I/AAAAAAAAZUs/MPnY76g75dMPhwrGmi_rm5aHWMVnEyu5QCLcB/s1600/IMG_2772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Xy8hhoPvWs/WERGQSBJ51I/AAAAAAAAZUs/MPnY76g75dMPhwrGmi_rm5aHWMVnEyu5QCLcB/s200/IMG_2772.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ik8pnLnAtU8/WERFIVngCII/AAAAAAAAZUk/h-3o-JviEGoVGV__e35yk6TpXNKu6TJRQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ik8pnLnAtU8/WERFIVngCII/AAAAAAAAZUk/h-3o-JviEGoVGV__e35yk6TpXNKu6TJRQCLcB/s200/IMG_2775.JPG" width="150" /></a>After enjoying that spinach knish from "<a href="http://www.coneyisland.co.il/">Coney Island</a>," the taste of Brooklyn on Jaffa Street by the light-rail stop, a few steps from Zion Square, I just had to try something more dietetic. <i>Maybe one day when I enter with a few friends, I'll share one of their gorgeous&nbsp;cupcakes</i>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BHWeRlMFSEA/WERCNpEYOLI/AAAAAAAAZUI/cSums8k4anoEi9mTYVQLOtXjqH_Br5h3QCLcB/s1600/IMG_2830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BHWeRlMFSEA/WERCNpEYOLI/AAAAAAAAZUI/cSums8k4anoEi9mTYVQLOtXjqH_Br5h3QCLcB/s320/IMG_2830.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />I took a tuna salad, which kept eyeing me... As you can see, the container is full of goodies. It only costs NS19- In other take out places a similar salad would cost more, well over twenty shekels.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QJc4B_RpsPk/WERDnOTdlqI/AAAAAAAAZUU/pSZ37gbuk_ESgDgHDj5hIXBj1TxvEgDjACLcB/s1600/IMG_2832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QJc4B_RpsPk/WERDnOTdlqI/AAAAAAAAZUU/pSZ37gbuk_ESgDgHDj5hIXBj1TxvEgDjACLcB/s200/IMG_2832.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Actually, I didn't eat it immediately, and it was still nice and fresh when I did. And it looked even better when I finished it off in a nice fancy bowl at a friend's apartment.<br /><br />Israel's Coney Island is more than an inexpensive food place, it also does catering and has totally separate dairy and meat kitchens. And they also do strictly parve catering and takeout. Contact Avi 054-569-6135 or Yael 052-668-4005<div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-64256322737691546912016-12-05T05:30:00.000+02:002016-12-05T05:42:42.458+02:00Craving CompoteThe other day I got back from Jerusalem with a slightly upset stomach and a strong craving for apple compote. The craving may have begun a few days earlier when I thought of making baked apple for dessert. In the end I didn't, because the last time I did, my husband wasn't very enthusiastic. If I were to make baked apples, I'd have to supply him with a cake, so I ended up not having the apples.<br /><br />But then I really found myself seriously <i style="font-weight: bold;">needing</i>&nbsp;cooked apple, so I made myself compote.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L1uNKVaZTGY/WERRug5Aa9I/AAAAAAAAZVA/uyx97qbjObIkXBByEudx_8FfmXSUnkZTgCLcB/s1600/IMG_2988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L1uNKVaZTGY/WERRug5Aa9I/AAAAAAAAZVA/uyx97qbjObIkXBByEudx_8FfmXSUnkZTgCLcB/s400/IMG_2988.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">raw ingredients</td></tr></tbody></table><br />There are just three ingredients besides water, as you can see in the photo:<br /><br /><ul><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cpwAmgPgJrU/WERTeZlCa2I/AAAAAAAAZVI/ys4470Jfo1MyLuSf5MXwRFszEz-MXQZswCLcB/s1600/IMG_2994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cpwAmgPgJrU/WERTeZlCa2I/AAAAAAAAZVI/ys4470Jfo1MyLuSf5MXwRFszEz-MXQZswCLcB/s200/IMG_2994.JPG" width="161" /></a><li>pieces of apples</li><li>cinnamon</li><li>fresh ginger</li></ul><div>While it was cooking I had some nice mild tea, also with a bit of fresh ginger. After smelling that it was cooking, I turned off the flame and waited for at least ten minutes. And then finally I had the Apple Compote, and it hit the spot. Suddenly I felt so much better. I finished every single drop.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zldB1YPZ25A/WERVDNizIsI/AAAAAAAAZVQ/0bUcdIikwUwiFHi7ky8UJmZulYYC4YBuACLcB/s1600/IMG_2991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zldB1YPZ25A/WERVDNizIsI/AAAAAAAAZVQ/0bUcdIikwUwiFHi7ky8UJmZulYYC4YBuACLcB/s400/IMG_2991.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>PS Correct, no sugar at all. It is so sweet on its own cooked/stewed in minimal water.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-27340971148950540572016-12-04T06:59:00.000+02:002016-12-04T06:59:18.793+02:00The Crucial Stir-- French Press Tip<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v57vmwnHv7I/WEOg5SK1s2I/AAAAAAAAZTw/8U6WCmDNf7svcqXiwQn-xXKTY5ZqmGrhgCLcB/s1600/IMG_2846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v57vmwnHv7I/WEOg5SK1s2I/AAAAAAAAZTw/8U6WCmDNf7svcqXiwQn-xXKTY5ZqmGrhgCLcB/s200/IMG_2846.JPG" width="200" /></a>One needs patience, a timer or some sort of busy routine when making coffee in a French Press. There's the first step when you pour boiling water over the coarsely ground coffee. It must sit and soak and brew for a few minutes. Some say four minutes, but I don't time it. I've just developed a routine that uses time. I take pictures of the sunrise or however the sky looks for my <span style="background-color: rgba(88 , 144 , 255 , 0.14902); color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">#morningcoffeehaiku</span>&nbsp;on Facebook. I also get the sugar and milk ready.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9gMkrGw5HM/WEOf3BGFkXI/AAAAAAAAZTo/kzVDnd0ZRmYFKR-kE-24aJ3-70eR9uThACLcB/s1600/IMG_2947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9gMkrGw5HM/WEOf3BGFkXI/AAAAAAAAZTo/kzVDnd0ZRmYFKR-kE-24aJ3-70eR9uThACLcB/s400/IMG_2947.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />By then the coffee and boiling water look like in the photo above. So, I give it a good stir, so it mixes extra well and can even look foamy, like the photo below.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0eJc-kVQiuY/WEOf34cohAI/AAAAAAAAZTs/2Bsq1r2lHz0PznL6W-9n7VQKECWnCImagCLcB/s1600/IMG_2950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0eJc-kVQiuY/WEOf34cohAI/AAAAAAAAZTs/2Bsq1r2lHz0PznL6W-9n7VQKECWnCImagCLcB/s400/IMG_2950.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />I guess by then four or enough minutes have passed, so I can push down the plunger which filters the coffee liquid up and keeps the grounds on the bottom for a perfect mug of coffee.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YkFjWiSPPRE/WEOf0J1e4fI/AAAAAAAAZTk/b83O3pFum6si3vUslzGPXkvvc3QcQpF_gCLcB/s1600/IMG_2952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YkFjWiSPPRE/WEOf0J1e4fI/AAAAAAAAZTk/b83O3pFum6si3vUslzGPXkvvc3QcQpF_gCLcB/s640/IMG_2952.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />Enjoy!!!<div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-62831874590938163342016-12-03T18:21:00.001+02:002016-12-03T18:21:28.867+02:00Absolutely Delicious: Meatloaf Plus!For Shabbat lunch I made something that's more meatloaf than moussaka. It's so easy to make and great heated on the electric hotplate. And you can make it for any occasion, and of course <i>you don't have to be Jewish...</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKCOvb5U2BU/WELtQReyrsI/AAAAAAAAZTE/CCxTyIdABBoDO3Nlw7PJOccUr3KtWdT9QCLcB/s1600/IMG_2933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKCOvb5U2BU/WELtQReyrsI/AAAAAAAAZTE/CCxTyIdABBoDO3Nlw7PJOccUr3KtWdT9QCLcB/s400/IMG_2933.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><i><br /></i>Very simple:<br /><ul><li>Layer the bottom of the baking dish (diameter of mine is about 26cm = 10inches*) with slices of eggplant.</li><li>Mix 2 lbs or just under a kilo of chopped/ground beef/chicken/turkey or a combination with a diced onion, tomato paste/concentrate, a couple of eggs and garlic.</li><li>Spread the meat mixture on the eggplant, and then decorate with more eggplant slices and some sliced tomato.</li><li>Bake in hot oven loosely covered with foil until you can see that the meat has moved from the edge of the pan, and liquid is visible, <i>like a moat</i>.&nbsp;</li></ul>It also freezes well and has no carbohydrates at all.<br /><br /><i>*Adjust quantity to the size of your baking dish.</i><div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-16467112335734778292016-12-02T07:33:00.000+02:002016-12-02T07:33:21.111+02:00May It Be For A Blessing...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yrV5eX69xM0/WEEEeP7IMCI/AAAAAAAAZSQ/hEQ7n0kpsq4yU6p9jCjCJOc-ItJqfzmFwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2938%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yrV5eX69xM0/WEEEeP7IMCI/AAAAAAAAZSQ/hEQ7n0kpsq4yU6p9jCjCJOc-ItJqfzmFwCLcB/s320/IMG_2938%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="224" /></a></div>Here in Israel, the Jewish Holy Land, we take our rain very seriously. There are all sorts of prayers about rain and references to rain in our prayers. This part of the world was not created with an automatic yearlong sprinkler system or reliable irrigation and water sources. More than half the year it doesn't rain at all, and the few natural springs can easily dry up. With proper watering, precipitation, this can be a very fertile piece of real estate.<br /><br />When we were on <i>shlichut, </i>doing Jewish/Zionist youth work in London, I'd get a kick out of the newscasts which reported on how many minutes of sunshine in London and other cities. Here they report how many millimeters of rain fell in the previous few hours.<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">The greatest fireman in action! </blockquote><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15192723_10153958907391389_6307021019191831482_n.jpg?oh=4d4f3c382f671ee7096aade3feec6eab&amp;oe=58B821DB" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15192723_10153958907391389_6307021019191831482_n.jpg?oh=4d4f3c382f671ee7096aade3feec6eab&amp;oe=58B821DB" width="393" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heavy heavy rain across Israel now especially in Haifa area where the wildfires were at their largest.&nbsp;<span class="_5afx" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;"><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;*N&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/moridhageshem?source=feed_text&amp;story_id=10153958909556389" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="color: #4267b2; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="font-family: inherit;">MoridHageshem,</span> Facebook</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />And after a dry spell, we don't want a long, heavy rain, because there are always lots of car accidents on the suddenly slippery roads. Rain, dust, sand and oil are a bad combination. Also, too heavy a rain on parched soil just wipes away the top soil and causes damage. So, the way the rains have fallen this week is good. First we had a bit of rain, just enough to soften the earth and wipe the dust off of our roads and solar panels, without flooding all the bad stuff (potential pollution) from the fires and now we've received a heavier rain to water the crops, refill fresh water springs and the Kinneret, the Sea of Galilee, Israel's major water source.<br /><br />Also here in the Holy Land, our timing and quantity of rains/precipitation are a blessing or punishment from Gd for our, as a People, behavior. Sins cause droughts and floods, while living according to the <i>mitzvot</i>&nbsp;Gd commanded us will bring rain in its season and the best quantities.<br /><br />And one of the lessons/reminders from Gd about these recent aishtafada fires is that although with modern technology we can purify enough water for agriculture and even drinking, but we can't protect our forests and homes from fire without enough rain. Too many times recently I've read rather sacrilegious stuff about our no longer being dependent on rain for sufficient water. All the damage was a reminder of how much we need the rain that only Gd can give.<br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vESfH0LISIw/WEEFurpu_WI/AAAAAAAAZSY/f219qRHSMpwfcNpLAd6ArZje3JSYPG66wCLcB/s1600/IMG_2936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vESfH0LISIw/WEEFurpu_WI/AAAAAAAAZSY/f219qRHSMpwfcNpLAd6ArZje3JSYPG66wCLcB/s200/IMG_2936.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />As much as I hate having the clothes drying in the living-room, it's a small price to pay for the needed rain. So, let your smile be your umbrella, thank Gd, bundle up and enjoy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vAkgWpRVIjs/WEEGv51gyBI/AAAAAAAAZSc/OGuU-TzUY4Ey7ZYuXpXkiZUUtYCzogDyQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vAkgWpRVIjs/WEEGv51gyBI/AAAAAAAAZSc/OGuU-TzUY4Ey7ZYuXpXkiZUUtYCzogDyQCLcB/s400/IMG_2941.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach!</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>May you have a Peaceful and Blessed Shabbat!</b></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-90123895777345636422016-12-01T07:16:00.000+02:002016-12-01T07:16:26.672+02:00Sunset on Way to the Israel MuseumOne of my favorite places to photograph, let's say #2 after <a href="http://telshilo.org.il/en/">Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh</a>, is the <a href="http://www.imj.org.il/en/">Israel Museum</a>. The other day I ended up walking in just as the sun was setting, and here are some of the photos I took:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5mVxy_pGEL4/WD-w2FzqaaI/AAAAAAAAZQI/D-yjqNQZp2Q110MU34miBulwia6T4sVKwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5mVxy_pGEL4/WD-w2FzqaaI/AAAAAAAAZQI/D-yjqNQZp2Q110MU34miBulwia6T4sVKwCLcB/s400/IMG_2780.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QlRT0MVk5Sc/WD-w1ivzqCI/AAAAAAAAZQE/iVFLekH7pBIFhKuMI8nh-joLP5dKXQlNQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QlRT0MVk5Sc/WD-w1ivzqCI/AAAAAAAAZQE/iVFLekH7pBIFhKuMI8nh-joLP5dKXQlNQCLcB/s400/IMG_2783.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vo1no_4nzRI/WD-xAS-CaqI/AAAAAAAAZQM/F_hd6lagEhkEq4j9hPgIw5ljhxd7zC5oACLcB/s1600/IMG_2785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vo1no_4nzRI/WD-xAS-CaqI/AAAAAAAAZQM/F_hd6lagEhkEq4j9hPgIw5ljhxd7zC5oACLcB/s400/IMG_2785.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eBKBLzSWzBo/WD-xJN8rmQI/AAAAAAAAZQQ/i3tP0_YgTngHGwjkMgR8-QQRSykJwP1ewCLcB/s1600/IMG_2786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eBKBLzSWzBo/WD-xJN8rmQI/AAAAAAAAZQQ/i3tP0_YgTngHGwjkMgR8-QQRSykJwP1ewCLcB/s400/IMG_2786.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20_lPfeAYgw/WD-xO4tO7rI/AAAAAAAAZQU/ADp9DbWx8fAfGpoUxZqElJR8EUyNiTxmwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20_lPfeAYgw/WD-xO4tO7rI/AAAAAAAAZQU/ADp9DbWx8fAfGpoUxZqElJR8EUyNiTxmwCLcB/s400/IMG_2789.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e7As20RPlZM/WD-xiE6CYfI/AAAAAAAAZQY/6nP7m7nWOEcXrZA3MDa8oduACwwH13kKQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e7As20RPlZM/WD-xiE6CYfI/AAAAAAAAZQY/6nP7m7nWOEcXrZA3MDa8oduACwwH13kKQCLcB/s400/IMG_2795.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g6HJxNf6Y1U/WD-xopbHJMI/AAAAAAAAZQg/iVGbJQh4PU4lCF8dCuVWXOXCqcraAH-jQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g6HJxNf6Y1U/WD-xopbHJMI/AAAAAAAAZQg/iVGbJQh4PU4lCF8dCuVWXOXCqcraAH-jQCLcB/s400/IMG_2798.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YKTl_ItIVOQ/WD-xnZMI_ZI/AAAAAAAAZQc/9tWYGm1DNUwAY4hGL--myVeoSumv3OixgCLcB/s1600/IMG_2799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YKTl_ItIVOQ/WD-xnZMI_ZI/AAAAAAAAZQc/9tWYGm1DNUwAY4hGL--myVeoSumv3OixgCLcB/s400/IMG_2799.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />It's also the location of a very good and reasonably priced dairy coffee shop/restaurant, <a href="http://www.restaurants-in-israel.co.il/restaurant.aspx?id=19439">Mansfeld</a>, in the entrance area; no need to pay entrance fee to eat in the restaurant. Parking is free, and there are a few bus lines that go there.<div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-15969160675735070232016-11-30T05:45:00.000+02:002016-11-30T05:45:07.464+02:00Spontaneous CrackThose of you who follow my coffee posts are familiar with my large glass mugs. I drink my water and coffee in them every day. I have two, or should I say I had two.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3JtGCKU_vyE/WDxSGz8vyKI/AAAAAAAAZNc/YEoGrgm1qxgFqZ0M-Jp-lhYg6htQw3i9ACLcB/s1600/IMG_2747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3JtGCKU_vyE/WDxSGz8vyKI/AAAAAAAAZNc/YEoGrgm1qxgFqZ0M-Jp-lhYg6htQw3i9ACLcB/s640/IMG_2747.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C-hx9pWdVpo/WDxSG2r9d_I/AAAAAAAAZNg/kvEuSUzaGbkj_mOcM_du53_uesOQCxojACLcB/s1600/IMG_2749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C-hx9pWdVpo/WDxSG2r9d_I/AAAAAAAAZNg/kvEuSUzaGbkj_mOcM_du53_uesOQCxojACLcB/s400/IMG_2749.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />When I came back from work the other day and went to finish my mid-morning tea, I discovered that the &nbsp;mug had somehow cracked. It was fine when I left it. I guess some "crack elves" were at work while I was teaching and shopping.<br /><br />Now I'm down to one and will have to buy a couple of new ones. This does happen periodically. But it has never happened quite like this.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><i>Kapora! </i>Better the mug than health!!</b></blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-27110690476991266242016-11-29T06:00:00.000+02:002016-11-29T06:00:11.672+02:00New CoffeeA friend is my usual coffee supplier and gave me a new one which I just opened a few days ago. It's a brand I've never had, so I was curious to try it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-slhAANWcZUU/WDxeaAQhTiI/AAAAAAAAZNw/dyftuqnRY_EBSlSHPsUTrNAGpsnG4_kWACLcB/s1600/IMG_2670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-slhAANWcZUU/WDxeaAQhTiI/AAAAAAAAZNw/dyftuqnRY_EBSlSHPsUTrNAGpsnG4_kWACLcB/s640/IMG_2670.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />I had never had <a href="http://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature.html">Kirkland</a> before. <i>That's the Costco brand.&nbsp;</i>It's OK, but not as strong as some coffees I've had, so I add more to the French Press. It could be that since it's "medium roast" and not "dark roast," it's not very strong.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FuuAAC3bHLk/WDxh41jjKfI/AAAAAAAAZN8/HcaouhGlirwyEFZGisXcKA3S4EmuCbNdgCLcB/s1600/IMG_2673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FuuAAC3bHLk/WDxh41jjKfI/AAAAAAAAZN8/HcaouhGlirwyEFZGisXcKA3S4EmuCbNdgCLcB/s400/IMG_2673.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />An extra spoon of coffee does the trick for me. And it sure smells good.<div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-91704047731888537142016-11-28T05:30:00.000+02:002016-11-28T05:30:11.768+02:00Planned Post Seems Embarrassingly TrivialI was all set to post about the fact that I just noticed that not only had my blogroll disappeared a few months ago, but apparently my list of book reviews had also taken a hike. Or "blogger" ate them. I wanted to find the link to one of the reviews, and suddenly I couldn't find the list.<br /><br />The past few months I've been trying to replace or remake my list of blogs, which is hard work. If I don't get it as complete as it once was, it's not a tragedy. There's always a dynamic in blog rolls. They change. But there's no way I can reproduce, remember all the books I've reviewed.<br /><br />And while thinking of exactly what to write about it I was on Facebook and saw the post and pictures about the artist &nbsp;<a href="http://www.yoramraanan.com/">Yoram Raanan</a>'s loss of decades of work in the aishtafada, the terrorist arson attack.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/15259517_1106798586101693_85564708185793287_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/15259517_1106798586101693_85564708185793287_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RaananArt/">Facebook</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fb-s-a-a.akamaihd.net/h-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/15167456_1106798709435014_7704814228779692218_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://fb-s-a-a.akamaihd.net/h-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/15167456_1106798709435014_7704814228779692218_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RaananArt/" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Facebook</a></td></tr></tbody></table>And as difficult as the fire has been for some people, families and communities, there has also been a great miracle. So far, <i>bli eyin haraa</i>, no lives were lost directly due to the fire. There are fires that kill and main, and while the terrorists who are responsible for this aishtafada have destroyed property, so far,&nbsp;<i>bli eyin haraa</i>, they haven't killed anyone.<br /><br />And I stopped myself from writing that the destruction of Raanan's pictures is like a death, because no matter how unpleasant and painful, it isn't like a death. Sometimes we use the work "death" too easily.<br /><br /><b>Gd made a great miracle here in the Holy Land.</b><div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-90013005353923261902016-11-27T07:53:00.001+02:002016-11-27T08:57:47.960+02:00Camera's Missing*, but Compared to What Others have Lost...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/proxy/Uun1kJAoVOg1CHx9ts3R3nOZORI4t3ppm0HraakYwRfrNpgTjrR4dQzbJhr4zzAvxxKUsFyo-aFcnaPoifHZr9aGUZyzmoAMeU3l-SuHO-oUJCImoQR2GxGirHUbRfHac7uxgPASz405n9kXm9wnh46i8r0vJ6J1Xxf5whzf9dUbN2XRHPMeWsUklYu9rmrAV0XOL9A=s0-d" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/proxy/Uun1kJAoVOg1CHx9ts3R3nOZORI4t3ppm0HraakYwRfrNpgTjrR4dQzbJhr4zzAvxxKUsFyo-aFcnaPoifHZr9aGUZyzmoAMeU3l-SuHO-oUJCImoQR2GxGirHUbRfHac7uxgPASz405n9kXm9wnh46i8r0vJ6J1Xxf5whzf9dUbN2XRHPMeWsUklYu9rmrAV0XOL9A=s0-d" width="320" /></a></div>This morning the big yellow sun called to me for a picture. I went to get my camera, and it wasn't there. So I tried all sorts of the usual hideouts, and I couldn't find my <a href="https://me-ander.blogspot.co.il/2014/08/playing-with-my-new-canon-ixus-145.html">red Canon IXUS 145</a>&nbsp;😕😟.<br /><br />Believe me, I'm not the type to lose and misplace things. I checked every possible place. &nbsp;It's not the end of the world, really. I still have my phone, <i>bli eyin haraa</i>, not to tempt the evil eye... and the camera may show up, of course.<br /><br />But even more important to remember is that over the past few days many Israeli homes have burnt to a crisp or sustained so much damage, that something like a camera is just history and one of the most easily replaceable items of the horrendous amount lost.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.binyamin.org.il/uploads/n/1480176321.7551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.binyamin.org.il/uploads/n/1480176321.7551.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><a href="http://www.binyamin.org.il/">Mateh Binyamin, Benjamin County website</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.binyamin.org.il/uploads/n/1479895187.5903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.binyamin.org.il/uploads/n/1479895187.5903.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.binyamin.org.il/">Mateh Binyamin, Benjamin County website</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fb-s-d-a.akamaihd.net/h-ak-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/15203167_10154027871111630_1305803949582438225_n.jpg?oh=cfe85640343bb2cd943b33c089bc913e&amp;oe=58B1CA59&amp;__gda__=1488426942_78b71917fb9f8a64f44459735e99de5c" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://fb-s-d-a.akamaihd.net/h-ak-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/15203167_10154027871111630_1305803949582438225_n.jpg?oh=cfe85640343bb2cd943b33c089bc913e&amp;oe=58B1CA59&amp;__gda__=1488426942_78b71917fb9f8a64f44459735e99de5c" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facebook</td></tr></tbody></table>May Gd quickly send rain to put out the flames, and may those flames turn on the terrorist arsonists who lit them.<br /><br />*PS I did find my camera. I suddenly remembered that I had put it with my phone, on the shelf over my bed. Prior to that I had remembered that it was around right before Shabbat and that it was in a place not usually placed. <b>May Gd help those with real problems!</b><div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-51140703582918160862016-11-26T19:33:00.001+02:002016-11-26T19:33:51.672+02:00Now That I'm Back in the Teaching "Saddle," Some Tricks #1It's funny how natural it has been for me to be back teaching high school boys, those who had never really gotten the fundamentals of English. During the decade plus I had taught in Beit El, I developed a lot of methods to teach reading that sometimes work with those who had never succeeded before. It's very phonetic, but not as detailed and tedious as the <a href="http://www.tuitionworksaustralia.com.au/hickey-program/">Hickey Method</a> which can take eons to finish.<br /><br />When I find myself with a group of 9th graders who still can't read English I need a solution and fast. There's no book that works quickly and suits our needs, the students and mine. Of course teaching vocabulary is even a great challenge, but this year one of my students is davka an English speaker, so the plan is to get him reading, and then by the end of the year he can go up a few groups to a much higher level. And for the others, I have the two challenges, reading and comprehension.<br /><br />This year, I'm having major problems with the paperwork necessary for teaching, the lesson plans and the records etc. When I had done tutoring, after leaving the classroom almost ten years ago, I didn't need to keep records. The kids would come with their notebooks etc, and I'd continue with whatever was needed. Sometimes I'd have to prepare a bit, but nothing very complicated.<br /><br />Now I've been photographing the board to keep a record of what I had taught.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--dfMGMZg69M/WDnFHgY_PcI/AAAAAAAAZMw/dmv8u8xhagIQ1_aZGGEYV8P6AYDPzxJwgCLcB/s1600/IMG_2271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--dfMGMZg69M/WDnFHgY_PcI/AAAAAAAAZMw/dmv8u8xhagIQ1_aZGGEYV8P6AYDPzxJwgCLcB/s400/IMG_2271.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x1ONeSeaxYE/WDnFHgDWyLI/AAAAAAAAZMs/TVWSIAFTFAgnbMJtzsYhOuTZfvMiVeWlgCLcB/s1600/IMG_2273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x1ONeSeaxYE/WDnFHgDWyLI/AAAAAAAAZMs/TVWSIAFTFAgnbMJtzsYhOuTZfvMiVeWlgCLcB/s640/IMG_2273.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />I also printed out a page of the alphabet for all my students, and we mark off each letter learned:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 12.0pt; tab-stops: 255.75pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed;"><i><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;MS Mincho&quot;;">Aa</span></i><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;MS Mincho&quot;;">, Bb, Cc, Dd, <i>Ee</i>, Ff, Gg, Hh, <i>Ii</i>, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, <i>Oo</i>,<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;MS Mincho&quot;;">Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, <i>Uu</i>, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, <i>(Yy),</i> Zz</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;MS Mincho&quot;;">Ch, ch, -gh, Ph, ph, Sh, sh, Th, th</span></blockquote><br />And as you can see from the photos above I teach the long and short vowels together. I don't call them "long and short," because the terms make no sense, neither in English nor in Hebrew for sure. I call them "strong and weak." Think of the use of muscles when vowels are "long" versus "short."<br /><br />Also when you start off teaching them that an "A" is "ah," they have trouble when weeks or months later, you suddenly expect them to learn that "A" is also "aye." It's much easier in the long run to teach both at the same time, and then they know from the beginning that vowels do more than one thing.<br /><br />I've labeled this post as "#1," because if you like it, I'll write more about my methods.<div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-23029408997491044782016-11-25T07:52:00.000+02:002016-11-26T21:01:42.029+02:00Like in The MoviesTo let you in on a secret, I love those sentimental and kitschy sports movies, like "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0210945/">Remember The Titans</a>" and "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0329575/">Seabiscuit</a>" and a host of others I can't think of at this moment so early in the morning. <i>Yes, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075148/">Rocky</a>&nbsp;the whole never ending series, too, like most of the world.</i><br /><br />This year's World Series, when the Chicago Clubs came from an impossible 3-1 series loss to win it 4-3, is probably already in the works as a movie to two, or more.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-snBemy0XUww/WDfKPWem32I/AAAAAAAAZL0/2CJPsWGBKP4NZ8qRxEPPT61DAZcInGbtACLcB/s1600/IMG_2682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-snBemy0XUww/WDfKPWem32I/AAAAAAAAZL0/2CJPsWGBKP4NZ8qRxEPPT61DAZcInGbtACLcB/s400/IMG_2682.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />So last night as half-time got close, in the <i>always colder than expected</i>&nbsp;Mishor Adumim sports field, <i>my chauffeur</i> and also the other mother who comes to cheer both felt that watching our beloved <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JerusalemLions/">Jerusalem Big Blue Lions</a> tackle football team lose yet again to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JudeanRebels/">Judean Rebels</a>, in a preseason game, just wasn't worth it, I agreed to leave and go home. I just said:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"Let's wait until half time, so we can at least say goodbye."</blockquote>And so we left. The score at that time was 28:6 to the Rebels. And the game we had left had looked so much like all the other games against the Rebels even though this one didn't have their former star Dani Eastman and his father the coach at the helm. So, we just figured that freezing and watching yet another defeat, especially when this one didn't even count in final league standings, wouldn't be worth risking illness. I was dropped off at the "city-line," aka Hisme/Jerusalem checkpoint and immediately caught a ride to Ofra and then to Shvut Rachel where I walked down with a friend to my house via the caravan neighborhood.<br /><br />When I got home and turned on my computer, nobody was more surprised than me, when I saw this video titled <b>ניצחון ענק!<i> NITZACHON ANAK! </i>GREAT VICTORY! </b>on Facebook:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JerusalemLions/videos/10155472179848502/"><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="652" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJerusalemLions%2Fvideos%2F10155472179848502%2F&amp;show_text=1&amp;width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe></a></blockquote>Apparently, <b>yes, just like in the movies</b>, the coach, aka my younger son, inspired the Lions to shape up and do their thing and <b>WIN, which they did by scoring another 24 points, davka, in the fourth quarter and not letting the Rebels even one! Yes, the final score was a whopping and amazing 30:28!</b><br /><br />OK, the tackle football played here in Israel may not have the same skill and speed as the NFL, but it's here and a lot of fun.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5iYN0AeFIqU/WDfPEE47p0I/AAAAAAAAZME/96WWpdZ_glYIQorIDxAfz47zDbFxSEMRACLcB/s1600/IMG_2687%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5iYN0AeFIqU/WDfPEE47p0I/AAAAAAAAZME/96WWpdZ_glYIQorIDxAfz47zDbFxSEMRACLcB/s400/IMG_2687%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Join us to cheer on the Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions to victory this year, Gd willing!<br /><br /><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="652" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheIflIsraelFootballLeague%2Fvideos%2F825113017629063%2F&amp;show_text=1&amp;width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Here's the <a href="http://www.israel-football.co.il/%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%97-%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%97%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%AA-2016-17/">schedule, click</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-15430294666391327262016-11-24T06:57:00.001+02:002016-11-24T06:57:33.608+02:00Coney Island Knishes in Jerusalem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5STlOm76hk/WDZtZdTe2EI/AAAAAAAAZKk/rNS1bRA6dBMr4NtYjuQGEjJ3hhhJeWdxACLcB/s1600/047%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5STlOm76hk/WDZtZdTe2EI/AAAAAAAAZKk/rNS1bRA6dBMr4NtYjuQGEjJ3hhhJeWdxACLcB/s200/047%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>I must admit that I wasn't raised on knishes, but the other day while walking on Jerusalem's Jaffa Street, I stopped into the <a href="http://www.coneyisland.co.il/">Coney Island</a>, meal, snack, pretty much anything at great prices food place, <i>see my post: <a href="https://me-ander.blogspot.co.il/2016/06/best-sandwich-deal-in-jerusalem-ns10.html">Best Sandwich Deal in Jerusalem, NS10</a>, </i>and ended up getting a couple of knishes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N7xe-ag37eo/WDZv3EotRNI/AAAAAAAAZKw/Ad2HmzkWI3wDIexhqLk-PtmSGAcRGk74QCLcB/s1600/IMG_2640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N7xe-ag37eo/WDZv3EotRNI/AAAAAAAAZKw/Ad2HmzkWI3wDIexhqLk-PtmSGAcRGk74QCLcB/s320/IMG_2640.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>One was classic potato, and the other was spinach. Admittedly, I'm not a real knish-maven, but I was raised on Jewish-Ashkenaz food in New York. I have memories of potato and kasha knishes, but not spinach ones. I ate the potato one on the spot, and it was OK but I'm not a potato fan at all. I was just very hungry and needed an energy boost-- <i>eeks! </i>I really didn't need all those calories.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtGUjY3rRpE/WDZwMqw9LqI/AAAAAAAAZK0/XmmeLcaR3RozeuCts4TK-x9h0qb1v5lUACLcB/s1600/IMG_2641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtGUjY3rRpE/WDZwMqw9LqI/AAAAAAAAZK0/XmmeLcaR3RozeuCts4TK-x9h0qb1v5lUACLcB/s320/IMG_2641.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>There were so many delicious and lower calorie foods to choose from, but after teaching I needed a treat. They provide friendly service and even have salads. But I rationalized that I needed to blog for people who aren't on perennial diets also. Right?<br /><br />By the time I finished the potato knish I really wasn't hungry. It's not like having chocolate or one of their gorgeous and tempting cupcakes, which I still haven't tried, which always whet the appetite and makes you want even more. The knish is food and satisfying.<br /><br />So, I stored the spinach knish in my friend's fridge and then took it with me the next day. I ended up heating up in the Teachers Room and eating it as a very necessary pre-lunch snack, since breakfast had been super early and lunch wasn't going to be for a couple of hours. I gave it good heating in the microwave.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zryyNjoyqVI/WDZymFuw7LI/AAAAAAAAZK8/Yfl21oHFxqgxTYlrsWNfVB1jt2mPjDs3wCLcB/s1600/IMG-20161123-WA0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zryyNjoyqVI/WDZymFuw7LI/AAAAAAAAZK8/Yfl21oHFxqgxTYlrsWNfVB1jt2mPjDs3wCLcB/s400/IMG-20161123-WA0001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />And it was truly delicious.<div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-45427947397118336362016-11-23T05:00:00.000+02:002016-11-23T05:00:00.156+02:00Breaking Rules for A ChangeThis week <a href="http://52frames.com/">52Frames</a> told us to Break the Rules. Actually it's a bit harder than it seems, since you have to know rules to break them. And I'm no real photography expert.<br /><br />I ended up choosing this picture I took from a bus. The bus's dirty window gave the scene an interesting look, which I liked. What do you think?<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XAFAfOWkWC4/WDMujCw4WAI/AAAAAAAAZIQ/Tob_uX5_SW02UtFgKqsyQ-o-1hz4b69bgCLcB/s1600/Batya%2BMedad%252C%2BBreak.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XAFAfOWkWC4/WDMujCw4WAI/AAAAAAAAZIQ/Tob_uX5_SW02UtFgKqsyQ-o-1hz4b69bgCLcB/s400/Batya%2BMedad%252C%2BBreak.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/52frames/photos/a.1397570136934769.1073742381.180889155269546/1397601313598318/?type=3&amp;theater"><b>"Through a Dirty Bus Window"</b></a></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">The dirt on the window makes it look like a snow flurry or someone had had a pillow fight out there. So many times a great scene is ruined by dirty windows, but this week we've been told to break the rules...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-17555820958735373382016-11-22T05:00:00.000+02:002016-11-22T05:00:30.476+02:00Even More #morningcoffeehaiku Well, I'm not OCD about it, but I really have been writing coffee haikus on facebook daily, usually illustrated by the day's brew and a sunrise. So, here are some new ones for &nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=%23morningcoffeehaiku">#morningcoffeehaiku</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JFnHJ9SZ_6M/WDNQIhAfUII/AAAAAAAAZI0/WMRD7xIx-XEAM_EahxnitTlgcpf5HvZ4gCLcB/s1600/IMG_2359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JFnHJ9SZ_6M/WDNQIhAfUII/AAAAAAAAZI0/WMRD7xIx-XEAM_EahxnitTlgcpf5HvZ4gCLcB/s200/IMG_2359.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Too dark for coffee</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">but had to get up early</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">sorry cam'ra shook</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">First coffee of week</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">first sunrise looking good too</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">enjoy gifts Gd gives</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L9hVPwhXwjU/WDNQfWefbkI/AAAAAAAAZI4/03knYzBuAgoXZLiRRd-rB4LHyr0moH7zgCLcB/s1600/IMG_2587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L9hVPwhXwjU/WDNQfWefbkI/AAAAAAAAZI4/03knYzBuAgoXZLiRRd-rB4LHyr0moH7zgCLcB/s200/IMG_2587.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Goodbye morning moon</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">sun is rising just beyond</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">drinking my coffee</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">sunrise is faded</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">but who cares when coffee's strong?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Thank Gd for caffeine</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xHJLp49JFWc/WDNQzSkJ4QI/AAAAAAAAZI8/OB37u1nrxM8TnW3mbsZ8NebKnCOhzvlNACLcB/s1600/IMG_2596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xHJLp49JFWc/WDNQzSkJ4QI/AAAAAAAAZI8/OB37u1nrxM8TnW3mbsZ8NebKnCOhzvlNACLcB/s200/IMG_2596.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">roses fade not coffee</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">coffee gives me energy</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">bottoms up, great day</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">sipping my coffee</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">trying to wake myself up</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">some nights aren't great</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tz3xXsS7okw/WDNRWdodl0I/AAAAAAAAZJE/v_jmR29T50sY58tM1SkrrKM8PnZiCy4mgCLcB/s1600/IMG_2628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tz3xXsS7okw/WDNRWdodl0I/AAAAAAAAZJE/v_jmR29T50sY58tM1SkrrKM8PnZiCy4mgCLcB/s200/IMG_2628.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">sneaking more coffee</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">French Press much too small for me</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">need an eight cup one</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Best morning view, nu?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Sunrise or mug of coffee?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Tough call. Isn't it?</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Up before the dawn</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">my body got used to it</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">coffee will be soon</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Join us for a mug of energy.<div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-12768282543567290292016-11-21T05:00:00.000+02:002016-11-21T05:00:16.729+02:00Where's the Rain?The good news is that I can hang out the wash, and it dries quickly, but the bad news is that we really need rain. Here's yesterday's sky.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a1MY290Y7eo/WDHqwUMELII/AAAAAAAAZHk/uPTnh6gXENk1uOAl2K4PpkECrp4QUMNygCLcB/s1600/IMG_2596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a1MY290Y7eo/WDHqwUMELII/AAAAAAAAZHk/uPTnh6gXENk1uOAl2K4PpkECrp4QUMNygCLcB/s400/IMG_2596.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i2lw8GNGyNY/WDHrBGHPH4I/AAAAAAAAZHs/cEk1HRNXtE0Eilo5FE4jj7KrLsSV7o4GACLcB/s1600/IMG_2600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i2lw8GNGyNY/WDHrBGHPH4I/AAAAAAAAZHs/cEk1HRNXtE0Eilo5FE4jj7KrLsSV7o4GACLcB/s400/IMG_2600.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vo0Ay7FTOOg/WDHq7zvT1RI/AAAAAAAAZHo/SKPq0yhN9H42KyhNJQHfKSGnU0AV-jr5gCLcB/s1600/IMG_2601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vo0Ay7FTOOg/WDHq7zvT1RI/AAAAAAAAZHo/SKPq0yhN9H42KyhNJQHfKSGnU0AV-jr5gCLcB/s400/IMG_2601.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pggHZt8ZqDA/WDHrNDwFM9I/AAAAAAAAZHw/9Lk_v8i2Ohw8-NtpB0EUOOUkOlLkZJuzQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pggHZt8ZqDA/WDHrNDwFM9I/AAAAAAAAZHw/9Lk_v8i2Ohw8-NtpB0EUOOUkOlLkZJuzQCLcB/s400/IMG_2620.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S0iiCKptdSs/WDHrSuNVY6I/AAAAAAAAZH0/d178ZZ5RlssyfoxIQogd-lAlXs-uwZ_mgCLcB/s1600/IMG_2622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S0iiCKptdSs/WDHrSuNVY6I/AAAAAAAAZH0/d178ZZ5RlssyfoxIQogd-lAlXs-uwZ_mgCLcB/s400/IMG_2622.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gThglQhvxzU/WDHrXszTF3I/AAAAAAAAZH4/ZmpNha6IgWY6CPmiD2WPlxoIdK6v9aZ1QCLcB/s1600/IMG_2623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gThglQhvxzU/WDHrXszTF3I/AAAAAAAAZH4/ZmpNha6IgWY6CPmiD2WPlxoIdK6v9aZ1QCLcB/s400/IMG_2623.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />I wonder if today will be the same...<br /><br />Remember that the amount and quality of the rainfall here is given by Gd either as a blessing or a punishment.<div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-51767222576395290242016-11-20T08:05:00.001+02:002016-11-20T08:05:48.008+02:00Never Say Never!It has taken me a few weeks to blog this. I really can't believe what I'm working at, yet, again. After leaving teaching almost ten years ago, I'm back in that difficult, uncomfortable saddle. Yes, I'm back to teaching EFL high school English to boys, weak students, "false starters," according to the still popular euphemism, MLD* or just plain ornery** and disinterested.<br /><br />Boys like these had been my specialty about fifteen years ago, and recently when I've run into some former students and told them that I've returned to teaching they are my biggest cheerleaders and fans.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRBalb9Lh4U/WDE3nIuRyrI/AAAAAAAAZHQ/kSda2H-eeJ4jobSdrPkie4OwI3JbrBE3gCLcB/s1600/IMG_2371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRBalb9Lh4U/WDE3nIuRyrI/AAAAAAAAZHQ/kSda2H-eeJ4jobSdrPkie4OwI3JbrBE3gCLcB/s200/IMG_2371.JPG" width="200" /></a><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eOARFDc6x1g/WDEwmkCFOgI/AAAAAAAAZGs/HmrAhzKUoyg7T1gDzEehu4R8io591VE5QCLcB/s1600/IMG_2204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eOARFDc6x1g/WDEwmkCFOgI/AAAAAAAAZGs/HmrAhzKUoyg7T1gDzEehu4R8io591VE5QCLcB/s200/IMG_2204.JPG" width="200" /></a>No, I'm not back in the same school, where I had taught for over a decade. I'm now teaching in Yeshiva High School Ahavat Chaim, which is in Kochav Hashachar, southeast of Shiloh, and the <i>alma mater</i> of my two sons, who graduated in the second and fourth graduating classes.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2I8y6Byf1Qw/WDE2b_V6V5I/AAAAAAAAZHE/ljbePlJ71qkLHsxa6M3E2o___4hBlkmmwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2I8y6Byf1Qw/WDE2b_V6V5I/AAAAAAAAZHE/ljbePlJ71qkLHsxa6M3E2o___4hBlkmmwCLcB/s400/IMG_2192.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4YO8nqpFW_k/WDExKxbUTvI/AAAAAAAAZGw/xIafok7GUv8iN3EEdcM3y1EUTmYrnwwkgCLcB/s1600/IMG_2121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4YO8nqpFW_k/WDExKxbUTvI/AAAAAAAAZGw/xIafok7GUv8iN3EEdcM3y1EUTmYrnwwkgCLcB/s400/IMG_2121.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a1eN182FyZU/WDExK1NZj3I/AAAAAAAAZG0/GlpFs_1ieykKXyd_D1FaRxNl3IaSEbVUACLcB/s1600/IMG_2122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a1eN182FyZU/WDExK1NZj3I/AAAAAAAAZG0/GlpFs_1ieykKXyd_D1FaRxNl3IaSEbVUACLcB/s400/IMG_2122.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Why did I leave my easy job at Yafiz, selling clothes, which I really did enjoy even though the salary was the bare minimum according to law?<br /><br />There are many reasons, which I can't go into right now. But the main one was that I couldn't sleep well working night shifts. I'm a morning person by nature, and working, getting myself in a "hyper mode" until 9:30pm to deal with customers plus and then having to stay awake and alert until I was home well after 10pm, meant that frequently I couldn't fall asleep until well after midnight. &nbsp;I was not hired as a night shift worker; it was just to do it "sometimes."<br /><br />Is teaching EFL here in Israel better today than it was when I agreed to be fired?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oBwbGlyvmys/WDE3k2tKnQI/AAAAAAAAZHM/_cff4MqQtmcUoh6QZ7RIYDFk7mPP0KU4wCLcB/s1600/IMG_2203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oBwbGlyvmys/WDE3k2tKnQI/AAAAAAAAZHM/_cff4MqQtmcUoh6QZ7RIYDFk7mPP0KU4wCLcB/s400/IMG_2203.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HfcgGeYhI58/WDE3djgBkJI/AAAAAAAAZHI/SPxXSJIgLio0HAImIH7-gktmfWmHYRQEACLcB/s1600/IMG_2271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HfcgGeYhI58/WDE3djgBkJI/AAAAAAAAZHI/SPxXSJIgLio0HAImIH7-gktmfWmHYRQEACLcB/s400/IMG_2271.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />To be honest, no! The things that irked me then are worse now. And now there is no, even mildly, convenient way to travel between my home and Kochav Hashachar by public transportation. Every night before teaching I have to call other staff members to arrange a ride. So far, it hasn't rained when I've had to travel, so the mile, kilometer and a half, between my house and the pickup point is a nice morning's walk. Going home also requires similar logistics. But there is one thing I enjoy now, which I didn't have in my former teaching job. The staff I work with now really makes an effort to go out of its way to help me and others. It also helps that my teaching hours are morning and afternoon. In my former school it was only afternoon/evening, I'd finish as late as 7:15pm, and nobody cared if I was stuck waiting an hour for a ride in my direction.<br /><br />Teaching is a talent I have. I can pretty much teach anything I know and have. I don't mind having to "change a lesson plan" on the spot, because the kids just don't know one of the prerequisites. That's a key for success as a Remedial Teacher.<br /><br />Because I have to travel when others need to get to work, which is earlier than me most days, I take advantage of the computers in the Teachers Room for my lesson planning. One of the reasons I didn't want to return to teaching is that it can take over your life. I only teach two classes and have very few students.<br /><br />I don't know if my salary will actually be much better than the one I had gotten from Yafiz, but I did need a change. I also don't plan on doing this very long and told that to the department head. But as we all know, life is full of surprises. May Gd give me the health and humor to continue and succeed.<br /><br />*Mild Learning Disabled, normal to high IQ suffering from one or various conditions like dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADD, ADHD, poor motivation etc.<br /><br />**If at first you don't succeed, just give up and disrupt the class so efficiently nobody can learn anything.<div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-11661774044077454792016-11-19T18:53:00.000+02:002016-11-19T18:53:41.984+02:00As One Week Fades Into AnotherAccording to Jewish custom, the week begins as Shabbat ends.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XKt7oOEGA1M/WDB_GFA0QmI/AAAAAAAAZF4/zs_ZGcqVfqA-7jzpRehVdAxF1sQigX2xgCLcB/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XKt7oOEGA1M/WDB_GFA0QmI/AAAAAAAAZF4/zs_ZGcqVfqA-7jzpRehVdAxF1sQigX2xgCLcB/s400/IMG_2381.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />For about a week, I'd been using a rose my husband had brought back from some event as part of my morning coffee still life to illustrate my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=%23morningcoffeehaiku">#morningcoffeehaiku</a> on Facebook.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mdrOxgEZ4a8/WDCATz4eVYI/AAAAAAAAZGA/yiYHPtHiqN8B1BPo8IgA1uxeuG0rZUR0QCLcB/s1600/IMG_2384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mdrOxgEZ4a8/WDCATz4eVYI/AAAAAAAAZGA/yiYHPtHiqN8B1BPo8IgA1uxeuG0rZUR0QCLcB/s640/IMG_2384.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />The rose faded after a few days and needed to be dumped.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7A9AuUBpFfI/WDCB6_mUEuI/AAAAAAAAZGM/7UgegoNBH_Uh8JvjhBy7NXOjJTCF2muEwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7A9AuUBpFfI/WDCB6_mUEuI/AAAAAAAAZGM/7UgegoNBH_Uh8JvjhBy7NXOjJTCF2muEwCLcB/s640/IMG_2588.JPG" width="372" /></a></div><br /><br />And that's the end of the rose. But when Shabbat is over, there's a new week, and may it be a much better one than the one before, Gd willing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-np2gyPFjlq4/WDCDEfli9RI/AAAAAAAAZGc/yY8Q93fuwOksjHunZMYUAjHSwoIWTIT1QCLcB/s1600/IMG_2591%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-np2gyPFjlq4/WDCDEfli9RI/AAAAAAAAZGc/yY8Q93fuwOksjHunZMYUAjHSwoIWTIT1QCLcB/s400/IMG_2591%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />And the cycle goes on...<div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-75851027980360956102016-11-18T07:33:00.000+02:002016-11-18T07:33:51.866+02:00A Traveling AdventureThe other day we had a joyous family occasion in Kfar Saba, which is a medium-size city northwest of Shiloh. We got there very easily, since my daughter, who lives in Ofra, picked us up on the way. But afterwards, she had to hurry to work in Jerusalem, which was convenient for my husband, but I wanted to check out some textbooks in a publishing house in nearby Ranaana. My cousin and her husband dropped me off there, but when I finished, things got more complicated.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"Where can I find a bus to take me in the direction of Yarkon Junction or Ranaana Junction?" I innocently and rather optimistically asked the staff.<br />"Bus?" I don't know. I've never taken a bus here." Responded one of the women. "Do you know where there's a bus stop?" She asked the other one.<br />"Maybe you can point me in the right direction, and I can walk to the Ranaana Junction?" I asked.<br />"No, it's much too far to walk." They replied in unison.<br />"Maybe --(I didn't catch the name)-- knows." And she went to the back to call another worker.<br />"Walk down the street to the right. Turn left &nbsp;and then at the traffic light turn left again. Walk another couple of hundred meters, and then you should find a bus stop. Take the #2." He spoke with the confidence of someone who actually takes buses, thank Gd.&nbsp;</blockquote>I surprised myself by actually remembering, more or less, the directions, though I did ask a few people on the way, just to make sure...<br /><br />When I got to the bus stop, immediately somebody asked me about the buses. Apparently, I wasn't the only stranger trying to get out of Ranaana by public transportation. We both kept asking people for help. And I saw there were charts showing all the stops, which was helpful.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O44-O2gDczE/WC6M-xDdCMI/AAAAAAAAZEc/SKmpTs2ii2M3JcIAopxWo2tCYpWPeHM-wCLcB/s1600/IMG_2561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O44-O2gDczE/WC6M-xDdCMI/AAAAAAAAZEc/SKmpTs2ii2M3JcIAopxWo2tCYpWPeHM-wCLcB/s400/IMG_2561.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Ironically just across the street from the stop was Rami Levy. I debated going in to shop, but didn't need anything and didn't want to schlep.<br /><br />Eventually, after a long winding route that must have crisscrossed every neighborhood and street in Ranaana we got the last stop, the Ranaana Junction, which has buses to all over. I looked at the listing for buses going in the direction of Petach Tikva and Tel Aviv, since I knew that most&nbsp;if not all would get to the Yarkon Junction where I could get a bus or ride to Ariel. Within just a couple of minutes, I was on my way.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7B5SI5vDi4g/WC6PZwQv84I/AAAAAAAAZEo/NF0rGI2utkYXL1nzVD_dizo8gYFItJqjgCLcB/s1600/IMG_2562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7B5SI5vDi4g/WC6PZwQv84I/AAAAAAAAZEo/NF0rGI2utkYXL1nzVD_dizo8gYFItJqjgCLcB/s400/IMG_2562.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LGCD1WnZJPU/WC6PZ8gB8RI/AAAAAAAAZEs/MBMkQ5kzqFA1t4lNVeLXIkbJOwDxvANIACLcB/s1600/IMG_2563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LGCD1WnZJPU/WC6PZ8gB8RI/AAAAAAAAZEs/MBMkQ5kzqFA1t4lNVeLXIkbJOwDxvANIACLcB/s400/IMG_2563.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EK87BPMUqk4/WC6PaklMyjI/AAAAAAAAZEw/BpFIcLwydaUP4A3GVQ0i6lmjKAlJVBOYgCLcB/s1600/IMG_2565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EK87BPMUqk4/WC6PaklMyjI/AAAAAAAAZEw/BpFIcLwydaUP4A3GVQ0i6lmjKAlJVBOYgCLcB/s400/IMG_2565.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9fd9rK_rjr4/WC6Pzqv3wlI/AAAAAAAAZE0/lXcwBd7c-VMLFUH-8Yvv3-JoL4ts6E4BwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9fd9rK_rjr4/WC6Pzqv3wlI/AAAAAAAAZE0/lXcwBd7c-VMLFUH-8Yvv3-JoL4ts6E4BwCLcB/s400/IMG_2567.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CSpCLt31CKo/WC6P4HYuI8I/AAAAAAAAZE8/lS3u65yCbZou7UVTt1lsVhNLZB6f3CAGACLcB/s1600/IMG_2568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CSpCLt31CKo/WC6P4HYuI8I/AAAAAAAAZE8/lS3u65yCbZou7UVTt1lsVhNLZB6f3CAGACLcB/s400/IMG_2568.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OicNlT4PYOI/WC6P3cz8LtI/AAAAAAAAZE4/aoVzzo3oXyINAhw58gmwch_0MjR1QNE2gCLcB/s1600/IMG_2569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OicNlT4PYOI/WC6P3cz8LtI/AAAAAAAAZE4/aoVzzo3oXyINAhw58gmwch_0MjR1QNE2gCLcB/s400/IMG_2569.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Once at the Yarkon Junction, I knew my way and confidently crossed to the bus stop.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V2wqhd-eH0U/WC6Q_BSCtzI/AAAAAAAAZFQ/TjEDTMEVDuo4AgIFSE346_kKs2vrubi7wCLcB/s1600/IMG_2570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V2wqhd-eH0U/WC6Q_BSCtzI/AAAAAAAAZFQ/TjEDTMEVDuo4AgIFSE346_kKs2vrubi7wCLcB/s400/IMG_2570.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgaLqbIhg8Q/WC6Q95sMSKI/AAAAAAAAZFM/l5VYP9jPcUkO809IzYjAMfmwnTLKeZFewCLcB/s1600/IMG_2571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgaLqbIhg8Q/WC6Q95sMSKI/AAAAAAAAZFM/l5VYP9jPcUkO809IzYjAMfmwnTLKeZFewCLcB/s400/IMG_2571.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1T37eaDuN6k/WC6Q_JBAkpI/AAAAAAAAZFU/MpqpMVEvbgQK2_4TVXtYxRqkTIUsHJDogCLcB/s1600/IMG_2572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1T37eaDuN6k/WC6Q_JBAkpI/AAAAAAAAZFU/MpqpMVEvbgQK2_4TVXtYxRqkTIUsHJDogCLcB/s400/IMG_2572.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />After a bit, I caught a bus to Ariel. And in Ariel I got off by the university, which is building and expanding.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s3KE2gHNB5g/WC6R3Er8NiI/AAAAAAAAZFY/7gBJteSsQCgzGOR5EEUMWOWBcG2SGAeQQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s3KE2gHNB5g/WC6R3Er8NiI/AAAAAAAAZFY/7gBJteSsQCgzGOR5EEUMWOWBcG2SGAeQQCLcB/s400/IMG_2573.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hsYbgGetvmk/WC6R4DM7JHI/AAAAAAAAZFc/ER62jLFumWggcfu6CbAZW6IVBsKp0dHGACLcB/s1600/IMG_2574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hsYbgGetvmk/WC6R4DM7JHI/AAAAAAAAZFc/ER62jLFumWggcfu6CbAZW6IVBsKp0dHGACLcB/s400/IMG_2574.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y-KyzE5HFHM/WC6R4ZTqg1I/AAAAAAAAZFg/quo5H_eCqfEt0CILGbPo1VpYI3Tfq2NfACLcB/s1600/IMG_2575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y-KyzE5HFHM/WC6R4ZTqg1I/AAAAAAAAZFg/quo5H_eCqfEt0CILGbPo1VpYI3Tfq2NfACLcB/s400/IMG_2575.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />From there I got a tremp home, B"H! Even though I really didn't know how I was going to travel, which buses and where, for some of the way, I must admit that it was a pretty easy trip and didn't take all that long. It almost took longer to blog it...<div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-13570007994320107452016-11-17T07:17:00.001+02:002016-11-17T07:17:50.634+02:00Celebrating Six 6! The other day my daughter finally got to make her six year old a birthday party. When the actual birthday is during the super busy Jewish Holiday Season, celebrations get postponed. But since the princess got to "plan" the party, which included all that she wanted, she didn't care that it was actually over a month after the date.<br /><br />Being just the grandmother, I had no real role other than glorified "gofer" and photographer, which meant that I could just enjoy myself and <i>kvell</i>. I especially enjoyed seeing my older granddaughters take over all sorts of important roles and responsibilities, very much like their mother did when she was their ages.<br /><br />I even set the table! As you can see, the birthday girl likes pink.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TWDA6jItaKk/WC073yhtI2I/AAAAAAAAZD4/gvKxzYQPJCY73o6pcZNnRRNmjhvxcWxTgCLcB/s1600/IMG_2471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TWDA6jItaKk/WC073yhtI2I/AAAAAAAAZD4/gvKxzYQPJCY73o6pcZNnRRNmjhvxcWxTgCLcB/s400/IMG_2471.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />The gorgeous cake was baked and decorated by the family, meaning that a few of us, including the birthday girl, took part.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1OCXkQ40RgI/WC07dU7G8XI/AAAAAAAAZD0/nbu3ih-73BIWMP22kk7v4gxihqGAwIXhQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1OCXkQ40RgI/WC07dU7G8XI/AAAAAAAAZD0/nbu3ih-73BIWMP22kk7v4gxihqGAwIXhQCLcB/s400/IMG_2516.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Thank Gd a good time was had by all, <i>Baruch Hashem</i>, <i>ken yirbu</i>; may there be many more <i>smachot</i>, happy occasions for all the family.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xN4x0t_5D6Y/WC09PUNZRkI/AAAAAAAAZEE/M5f00Nr4J5w5_GotS8wdq2Y_eLDWhQ6egCLcB/s1600/IMG_2528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xN4x0t_5D6Y/WC09PUNZRkI/AAAAAAAAZEE/M5f00Nr4J5w5_GotS8wdq2Y_eLDWhQ6egCLcB/s400/IMG_2528.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-19340202228642015312016-11-16T07:04:00.000+02:002016-11-16T07:09:45.386+02:00"Masculinity" for 52FramesEach week there's a different theme for those participating in <a href="http://52frames.com/">52Frames</a>. Sometimes it's more technical, how you take the picture or even edit it, and sometimes it's the subject matter, like this one,&nbsp;"Masculinity." I ended up taking a few photos as I walked in Jerusalem last Wednesday morning towards <a href="http://www.matan.org.il/eng/">Matan</a>.<br /><br />Here they are. Did I submit the best one, or should I have sent in a different one? I'd love your opinion, thanks.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nagJMgfI7FA/WCvmqaprVCI/AAAAAAAAZCo/XPGf76Q_Ox493YpHvi5DuZyMnSxCMTYJgCLcB/s1600/Batya%2BMedad%252C%2BMan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nagJMgfI7FA/WCvmqaprVCI/AAAAAAAAZCo/XPGf76Q_Ox493YpHvi5DuZyMnSxCMTYJgCLcB/s400/Batya%2BMedad%252C%2BMan.JPG" width="387" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Strolling"</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Walking in Jerusalem the other morning, I spotted this guy ahead of me, snuck up and shot him.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DE45jo4oucQ/WCvnp9BvrHI/AAAAAAAAZC4/AkpNrTfDtiEk8INBEVf3zOINhuaSu-CjQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DE45jo4oucQ/WCvnp9BvrHI/AAAAAAAAZC4/AkpNrTfDtiEk8INBEVf3zOINhuaSu-CjQCLcB/s400/IMG_2364.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-scebt8VX_9k/WCvno67QBvI/AAAAAAAAZC0/grZXAhu5AuEdBpNBrs0tn8dpj3O3JzwFwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-scebt8VX_9k/WCvno67QBvI/AAAAAAAAZC0/grZXAhu5AuEdBpNBrs0tn8dpj3O3JzwFwCLcB/s400/IMG_2365.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gVWOKYxFKlk/WCvnZSpVW2I/AAAAAAAAZCw/_5As9FDgUzIpg3XxtwRgr24w6BhD1N5AACLcB/s1600/IMG_2366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gVWOKYxFKlk/WCvnZSpVW2I/AAAAAAAAZCw/_5As9FDgUzIpg3XxtwRgr24w6BhD1N5AACLcB/s640/IMG_2366.JPG" width="513" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the runner-up</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-trLqSbcA4/WCvoM-DyvaI/AAAAAAAAZDA/uHVQmNFXGm8Ifzujx7XhYtuYkbifRgXFACLcB/s1600/IMG_2367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-trLqSbcA4/WCvoM-DyvaI/AAAAAAAAZDA/uHVQmNFXGm8Ifzujx7XhYtuYkbifRgXFACLcB/s400/IMG_2367.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FAY_0PnEZR8/WCvoKk3BJTI/AAAAAAAAZC8/cYFkYLR1UH4PuAeaSzvLwGvsP16iT9JdwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FAY_0PnEZR8/WCvoKk3BJTI/AAAAAAAAZC8/cYFkYLR1UH4PuAeaSzvLwGvsP16iT9JdwCLcB/s400/IMG_2368.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476955.post-76175809022465830462016-11-15T04:30:00.000+02:002016-11-15T04:30:28.181+02:00Simple Avocado SaladThe other day, I grabbed an avocado to take with me for lunch. OK, that is a pretty dumb thing to do, since avocados are awfully messy. That's not a problem when you're home, since avocados make great face (and no doubt neck) cream. So, it's no surprise that I didn't have lunch when I was out. But the minute I got in I quickly assembled a nice colorful salad with the avocado, a tomato and a mushroom.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wL5Yb5m8dQw/WCn-jh7-NQI/AAAAAAAAZBg/jZ5Mp8Jhqg8w-Q9XTm5zY6LUiDvQj90ZACLcB/s1600/IMG_2406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wL5Yb5m8dQw/WCn-jh7-NQI/AAAAAAAAZBg/jZ5Mp8Jhqg8w-Q9XTm5zY6LUiDvQj90ZACLcB/s400/IMG_2406.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />I love the colors. And I also like how it looks on the newspaper. I was getting tired of photographing food on the same tablecloths all the time. On black and white the colors of the tomato and avocado really stand out. Yes, that's how red and yummy the tomato was, and you can see that the avocado was also perfectly ripe and ready to be eaten.<br /><br />This salad took me just a couple of minutes to prepare and not much more to eat it.<div class="blogger-post-footer">We can change the world!</div>Batya Medadhttps://plus.google.com/111628438721805191876noreply@blogger.com0